Aspiration Toward Inspiration

While we could go into the ethics of spending money on things like that garden at St. Raymond’s, I think it’s fair to say that Americans (especially in urban and suburban areas) need a bit more nature in their worship. I know I do. I’m particularly forest deprived right now. Not the point.

In that garden, it occurred to me how decidedly beautiful the vocation of “priest” is.

That little garden on the grounds of a Catholic church was certainly built and is certainly maintained by Catholics. They appreciate that garden as much as my protestant self.

It’s so easy to see myself as different from Catholics, to be angered by the positions they take and the theologies they claim. I’ll admit that I argued with a Catholic priest in front of a classroom full of students. A lot of what Roman Catholicism does bothers me… It angers me how wealthy the Catholic Church is. Their positions on certain issues are backwards and often hinder equality and justice. They haven’t done enough about pedophilia in their clergy. They produce an unhealthy amount of “bitter ex-Catholics” who harbor biases and misconceptions about religion.

Yet what is a priest doing? The same thing as me, essentially. He finds peace in that garden and seeks to love God the best way he knows how.

That’s why interfaith work is important. It’s important to understand that we are all trying to live and love God the best way we know how. We may have different ideas about how we are to do that, but I want my endeavor to be respected and want to respect others’. I aim to be vocal about those things I disagree about, but also respectful of someone’s love for their faith.

We can certainly be angry with religions, but it’s important to love their members and understand their good intentions.